Discrimination of the Disabled

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The Disability Discrimination Act helps
protect the rights of disabled Americans from discrimination based on their physical
or mental disabilities. The Disability Discrimination Act was put into place in
1995 and was updated in 2005. Copies of the Disability Discrimination Act are
under the public information realm and can be viewed by any member of the
public as they see fit. The Disability Discrimination Act gives disabled people
rights in the education world, in employment, access to goods, facilities and
services, including larger private clubs and services, buying or renting land
or property, including making it easier for disabled people to rent property
and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations and functions of public
bodies.

If you feel you have been discriminated against or have questions about discrimination, contact a lawyer who can help.

The Disability Discrimination Act protects mentally and physically
disabled people in the following ways:

Access to goods,
premises and services: public places must make reasonable adjustments that
include:

installing an induction loop for people who are
hearing impaired

giving the option to book tickets by email as well as
by phone

providing disability awareness training for staff who
have contact with the public

providing larger, well-defined signage for people with
impaired vision

in a ramp at
the entrance to a building as well as steps

Education:

local education authorities (LEAs)

schools

colleges

universities

providers of adult education

the statutory youth service

changes to practices or procedures

changes to physical features

providing extra support (such as specialist teachers
or equipment)

Employment:

application forms

interview arrangements

proficiency tests

job offers

terms of employment

promotion, transfer or training opportunities

work-related benefits such as access to recreation or
refreshment facilities

dismissal or redundancy

Motoring and Transports:

Buses and coaches

Taxis

Trains

Learning to drive

Insurance

A disability is defined by the
Disability Discrimination Act as any physical or mental disability that has a
substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out
normal day to day activities. Disabilities that are not covered by the Disability
Discrimination Act are addictions to drugs, alcohol, the tendency to start
fires, the tendency to steal or the tendency to physically, mentally, or
emotionally abuse others. The Act also protects Americans that have progressive
conditions such as cancer, HIV, and multiple sclerosis. People are protected
under the Act from the point of their diagnosis.

Public and private places such as
educational institutions, places of employment, restaurants, bars, shops,
cafes, stadiums and other places are required, by law, to make adjustments
regarding disabled students, employees, or customers. If adjustments aren’t
made then the disabled party is legally allowed to file a complaint against the
employer, their educational institution, or the public place they attend
because adjustments aren’t made. For instance, if a school was built before
these laws were put into place, they must update their building for the
possibility of having a disabled student take classes there.

The Act defines
disability as:

substantial means neither minor nor
trivial

long term means that the effect of
the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months (there
are special rules covering recurring or fluctuating conditions)